The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) Student Support Services Program (SSS) is seeking peer reviewers to evaluate discretionary grant applications for the program's grant competition. Serving as a peer reviewer provides a valuable opportunity to contribute to national education reform efforts by ensuring the effective allocation of federal grant funds to the most promising projects. 

SSS provides grants to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, to assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

 SSS is seeking peer reviewers with expertise in postsecondary education funding.

Peer reviewers will independently read, score, and provide written comments for grant applications submitted to the U.S. Department of Education under the SSS Program. The following are expectations for peer reviewers who are selected:

• The reviewer must have access to the internet, a phone, and a printer and have the ability to interact within a web-based environment.

• The reviewer must be able to navigate G5/G6 using a compatible internet browser.

• The reviewer must be registered in the G5/G6 system.

• The reviewer must read and sign a conflict-of-interest form.

• The reviewer must be available to participate in the following:

  • Peer Reviewers orientation

  • Panel discussion (conference calls greater than 60 minutes)

• The reviewer must be available to discuss applications during the review period.

• The reviewer must provide detailed, objective, constructive, timely, and well-written reviews for each criterion for each assigned application. These written reviews are made public, though the reviewer's identity is not revealed with respect to the individual applications reviewed.

Reviewers are required to participate in panel discussions via conference calls to review and finalize application strengths and weaknesses. Most panel calls will be scheduled during regular business hours (9 AM to 5 PM ET) on weekdays. Reviewers must be available to participate in calls during these hours. If necessary, additional calls may be scheduled outside of regular business hours and on weekends. Panel-specific call schedules will be established collaboratively, with any major scheduling conflicts communicated during the development of the schedule. This typically occurs during a panel conference call held shortly after the completion of live training sessions. Reviewers must also be accessible via email to answer questions or clarify comments throughout the review and editing process.

 The panel review process is scheduled from approximately October 3, 2024 – February 24, 2025.

Panel reviewers will be selected and notified on an as-needed basis. Reviewers will receive an honorarium for their services.

Conflict of Interest: Please remember that if your organization has submitted an SSS grant, you will not be eligible to serve as a reviewer. As a reviewer, you will have a conflict of interest if:

• You helped prepare an application, regardless of financial interest in the success or failure of that application.

• You have agreed to serve, or you have been offered a position, as an employee, advisor, or consultant on the project.

• Your personal financial interests will be affected by the outcome of the competition, which would include any family members, employees or associates of the project applying for funding.  

How to Apply: If you would like to be considered as a peer reviewer for one or more SSS sessions, please complete the Peer Reviewer Interest Survey and provide a response by September 6, 2024.